Jim Goodwin's top-six Terrors moved eight clear of sixth place with three massive points on the road. 

Heart of Midlothian 0

Dundee United 1 (Dalby 67')

2:30pm Sunday 6 April 2025

Tynecastle Park

William Hill Premiership

Attendance: 18,888

Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

The Team Talk

With a place in the top six already arithmetically secured following yesterday's results, the Gaffer made five changes following last weekend's Highland Fling in Dingwall.

Kristijan Trapanovski, Craig Sibbald and Glenn Middleton were all dropped to the bench, whilst Vicko Ševelj was afforded a rare rest after picking up a slight knock. They were replaced by Louis Moult, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Allan Campbell and Declan Gallagher as we opted for a change in shape. 

The fifth change came late in the day as Ross Graham pulled up in the warm-up. He was replaced by Sam Cleall-Harding, who was handed his full debut in front of the tangerine faithful — a proud moment for the Academy graduate on a big Premiership stage

There were two DUFC Academy graduates involved in our matchday squad. 

Digging In

After a back-and-forth opening, it was the hosts who threatened early on as Elton Kabangu raced in behind Cleall-Harding to force Walton into a smart stop to keep it level.

James Wilson twice misfired as he found the side netting from the angle before sweeping a first-time shot wide of the mark from Jorge Grant's cutback. 

Hearts continued to ask questions, and while Cleall-Harding showed sharp instincts to block a dangerous strike from Kabangu, Sander Kartum followed up with a low effort that Walton gathered comfortably.

A Sam Dalby header and Ryan Strain freekick were the closest we came in a relatively tame opening at Tynecastle. 

Turning the Tide

On the stroke of half-time, we found ourselves a man to the good as Wilson, who looked Hearts' brightest spark, was dismissed. 

It came as a loose ball was there to be contested in the middle of the park, but the Hearts' youngster was high and reckless as his studs crashed through the standing leg of Luca Stephenson above the ankle.

A brief VAR check confirmed his marching orders. 

Fortune Favouring the Bold

After going in level, we made a triple change on the hour in search of the opener. 

OFF: Moult, Cleall-Harding and Campbell

ON: Babunski, Trapanovski and Middleton

It almost paid off instantly as a cross was just too high for Dalby before David Babunski picked up the pieces and his shot was blocked en route to goal. 

14 and Counting

We weren't forced to wait much longer, as a piece of Dalby magic sparked bedlam in the Shed End. 

A horrible clearance from Michael Steinwender was picked up by Stephenson who fed Middleton as we charged down the right. With space afforded to our number 15, he cut inside on his favoured left foot and delivered a killer cross for Dalby who somehow got around his marker and looped a header into the far corner over the helpless Craig Gordon.

Hearts still posed a threat as we entered the closing stages, Walton again called into action to deny Adam Forrester’s low shot, following clever hold-up play from Lawrence Shankland.

At the other end, Kristijan Trapanovski will feel he should have done better as he cut inside and let fly on his left foot - carrying little danger in the end.  

A final scare came in injury time as a deflected cross looked set to loop over Walton, but the keeper was quick to react, keeping the danger at bay and that was all she wrote as we sealed a memorable Tynecastle double this campaign! 

Post-Match Thoughts

Teamlines

Heart of Midlothian

Starting XI: Gordon (c), Baningime, Grant, Steinwender, Spittal, Kabangu, Wilson, Kartum, Penrice, McCart, Forrester

Subs: Fulton, Halkett, Nieuwenhof, Shankland, Devlin, Forrest, Milne, Dhanda, Drammeh

Dundee United

Starting XI: Walton, Strain, Moult, Ferry, Adegboyega, Stephenson, Dalby, Campbell, Docherty (c), Gallagher, Cleall-Harding

Subs: Richards, Trapanovski, Fiorini, Babunski, Sibbald, Middleton, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Paton

Next Up

It's a top-six homecoming next Saturday as we welcome St Johnstone to Tannadice in our final pre-split joust! 

CLICK HERE for tickets!

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